Safety release wrist strap assembly for a ski pole



Dec. 29, 1964 F. E. SHRIDE ETAL SAFETY RELEASE WRIST STRAP ASSEMBLY FOR A SKI POLE Filed March 15, 1961 FIG. 3.

INVENTORS PETER V. SPAKOWSKY Y FRANK E. SHRIDE M 4 s fiufi ATTORNEYS United States Patent *Ofiice 3,153,435 Patented Dec. 29,, 1964 3,13,436 SAFETY RELEASE WRIST STRAP ASSEMBLY FOR A SKI POLE Franlr E. fihride, Rte. 1, Box 226, and Peter V. Spakowsky, Rte. 1, Box 240, hath of Burton, Wash. Filed Mar. 15, 1951, Ser. No. 95,894 6 Claims. (Ci. 239-11.37)

matically separable to free the skiers hand from the ski pole when predetermined stress is placed thereon in the event any part of the ski pole becomes caught in the course of skiing or towing.

Another object is to provide a safety release Wrist strap assembly including a pair of strap members connected at one terminal to the ski pole handle, the free terminals of the strap members having normally intere-ngaged complemental friction grippers, the grippers being disengaged under pressure applied to the strap members at the locus of the grippers by the back of the skiers hand.

A further object is to provide a safety release Wrist strap assembly of the character described wherein the assembly further includes a short strap carried by the inner face of one of said members and extending into contiguous relation with the inner face of the second strap member, to prevent twisting of the strap members or premature disengagement of the friction grippers.

Other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following description of the present preferred form of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a ski pole illustrating the application of the safety wrist strap assembly of the present invention, the wrist strap assembly shown being adapted for engagement with the left hand of the skier;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the wrist strap assembly adapted for engagement with the right hand of die user;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to' FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the position of the safety wrist strap assembly of the present invention in operative position on the skiers Wrist;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary edge elevational view of the safety wrist strap assembly of the present invention showing the strap members disengaged from each other;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the fasteners in interengaged operative relation; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the device of the present invention in an operative interengaged relation.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing, there is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 a ski pole 10 having a handle 11, to the upper portion of which the safety strap assembly of the present invention, generally designated 12, is fixed in a conventional manner. Wrist strap assembly 12 comprises a pair of strap members designated 13 and 14 which are of predetermined equal length. Strap members 13 and 1 are preferably made of leather having an outer smooth surface and an inner roughened surface. The upper terminals 15 and 16 of strap members 13 and 14 are fixed to the upper terminal of handle 11 by conventional means with the inner rough surface of the leather facing upwardly at the point of securement.

Referring now to FIG. 4, strap members 13 and 14 are transversely scored at a point adjacent the freeterm nais thereof, as indicated at 17 and 18, respectively, in order to permit greater flexibility of the leather members at that point. Between score line 17 and the terminal of strap member 13 is a female gripper-type snap fastener designated 19 which is adapted to receive a complemental male gripper-type snap fastener 20 fixed to strap member 14 at a point between score line 18 and the terminal thereof. It will be noted from a consideration of FIG. 5 that members 19 and it are located on the inner roughened surface of strap members 13 and 14 so that when engaged the extreme terminals of strap members 13 and 14 extend at approximately right angles to the remainder .of the strap members.

It is also within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a short strap 21 which is preferably fixed to the inner roughened surface of strap 13 by suitablemeans 22 at a point adjacent score line 17. As shown to advantage in FIGS. 4 and 5, strap 21 is of a length to extend across the intersti ce indicated: at 23 formed between strap members 13 and 14 when fasteners 19 and 20 are interengaged. The free terminal of short strap 21 is adapted to be trained through a loop 24, which is fixed to the outer face of strap member 14 by suitable means 25. Loop 24 serves to retain strap 21 in contiguous relation with strap members 15 and 14 until disengagement of fasteners 19 and 211.

For optimum results in using the safety wrist strap assembly of the present invention, the latter must be secured to the ski pole in such a manner that loop 24 is located on the thumb side of each hand, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

In actual use, the wrist strap assembly of the present invention serves its usual function of attaching the ski pole to the wrist of the skier. In addition, short strap 21 forming a part of the present assembly serves first of all to prevent strap members 13 and 14 from rotating on the snap fasteners 19 and 20, thereby maintaining the assembly in readiness to carry out the objects of this invention. Short strap 21 furthermore prevents premature disengagement of snap fasteners 1% and 20 under mild stress. In the event of emergency, however, such as may be occasioned by the snow ring, pole'handle or strap becoming entangled with a foreign object either while skiing or being towed, the safety release wrist strap as sembly of the present invention operates quickly in response to stress placed thereon by the back of the hand to release the skiers hand and thereby prevent possible serious'injury to the elder.

In the case of such emergency, pressure is exerted by the back of the hand against loop 24 therebyeffecting compression of short strap 21 between the loop and strap member 13. The'friction of the leather prevents slippage of short strap 21 until the tension thereon becomes severe or until a sudden sharp pull is exerted on the assembly. When this happens, short strap 21 is pulled through loop 24 and forced into interstice 23 to exert an outward force on the terminals of the strap members and on snap fasteners 19 and 20 resulting in disengagement of the latter. Short strap 21 then slides completely through loop 24 and the skiers hand is freed.

While we have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety release wrist strap assembly for a ski pole, including strap members of predetermined length, one end of each of said strap members being fixed to said pole,

and complemental interengageable friction members fixed to the free terminals of said strap members, said friction members being disengaged upon the exertion of stress thereon.

fixed to the inner faces of said strap members in opposed relationship.

4. A safety release Wrist assembly for engagement with a ski pole having a handle, comprising strap members of predetermined length, one end of each of said strap members being connected to the handle, interengageable snap fasteners mounted on the inner faces of said strap members adjacent the'free terminals thereof, a short strap, one end of which is fixed to theinner face of one of said strap members, and a loop carried by the inner face of said other strap member through which the free terminal of said short strap is trained. 5', A wrist strap for a ski of predetermined length, one end of each of said members being connected to the ski pole handle and the other pole including strap members '25 a 4 end of each of said members being free from the ski pole and detachable interengageable snap means attached to the free ends of said strap members, said interengageable snap means being separated upon the exertion of stress thereon.

'6.. Ir1 a ski pole having a handle, a wrist strap for the ski pole comprising strap members of predetermined length, one end of each of said strap members being connected to the handle, and interengageable complemental snap means attached to the free terminals of said strap members, the snap means including male and female elements frictionally held together in normal use, said male and female elements being forced apart under stress exerted thereon by the back of the hands and wrist of the user, to release the skier from the ski pole.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 10,612 Sanders Iune'16, 1885' FOREIGN PATENTS v 164,871 Switzerland .Dec. 16, 1933 195,361 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1938 195,360 Switzerland a Apr. 16, 1938 173,396 Austria Dec. 10, 1952 88,021 Norway July 14, 1956 

1. A SAFETY RELEASE WRIST STRAP ASSEMBLY FOR A SKI POLE, INCLUDING STRAP MEMBERS OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH, ONE END OF EACH OF SAID STRAP MEMBERS BEING FIXED TO SAID POLE, AND COMPLEMENTAL INTERENGAGEABLE FRICTION MEMBERS FIXED TO THE FREE TERMINALS OF SAID STRAP MEMBERS, SAID FRACTION MEMBERS BEING DISENGAGED UPON THE EXERTION OF STRESS THEREON. 